Oberhofen Castle
An iconic castle with water tower.
The influence of many different generations has given this castles its special appearance and style. After a long history of aristocratic influence the castle was acquired by a wealthy American Lawyer by the name of William Maul Measey in 1925, the last official resident to live there. In 1940 the Oberhofen Foundation was established and in 1954 the museum opened to the general public as an outpost of the Historic Museum of Berne. As of 2009 the Oberhofen Castle once again became an independent foundation. The castle now has its own restaurant and is used for civil marriage ceremonies, weddings, celebrations and events. The castle also has its own privat chapel as part of it many special features.
Castle Museum and Exhibitions
Oberhofen castle has a permanent collection that spans its long and rich 800 year history. There are many rooms to be discovered that also include the elegant dinning-room adjustment to the kitchen, the dungeon on the ground floor and the 15th century chapel from the Scharnachthals period.
At the moment there is also a special exhibition of the Pourtalès-Harrach family and their domestic servants. This takes you back to the 19th century allowing for a small glimpse of what it was like to live in this time period. There are numerous interactive displays and anecdotes to help describe the daily routines of this aristocratic household. The well preserved servant quarters isn't what you might expect to see or experience in a castle, but these are for their times very modern and well supplied. The British television series "Upstairs, Downstairs" comes to mind when visit both the piano nobile* and servant quarters. This not too long ago epoch is now echoed throughout the castle walls, while you wonder along the corridors and through the rooms, floor by floor with a final climb to the top of the tower and the oriental smoking room with all of its rich geometric decorations.
Castle park
The castle is surrounded by its own park grounds that includes an inner castle garden with flowers presented in geometric patterns, a children's chalet just outside the walls and a wide surrounding park that includes lawns and paths with a variety of exotic trees that also include redwoods. It's also possible to stroll directly along the lake allowing for beautiful views of the Swiss alps.
* The piano nobile (Italian for "noble floor" or "noble level") is the first floor of a large palace, villa or house, containing the principal rooms.
Brief history
Oberhofen Castle's history spans some 800 years. Presumably founded by local aristocracy around 1200, the formerly moated castle was transferred to the Habsburgs in the 14th century. After their defeat in the Battle of Sempach (1386), Oberhofen Castel was returned to the State of the Bern who sold it to the mayor Ludwig von Seftigen and his sister Antonia von Scharnachthal. Oberhofen Castle remained in the ownership of the Bernese von Scharnachthal family until 1590, when it passed to the von Erlachs. From 1652 to 1798 Oberhofen Castle was a bailiwick.
In 1884, the Neuchâtel-Prussian count Albert de Pourtalès acquired the estate on Lake Thun and converted the manor into a romantic historic castle. It remained the summer residence of the count's family until 1925. In that year, the American Lawyer William Maul Measey bought the castle and in 1940 he established it as a foundation. Thanks to him, Oberhofen Castle became affiliated to the Bernese Historic Museum and in the 1954 accessible to the public. Since 2009, the castle has been an independent foundation.
Reference:
From the Oberhofen Castle
Visiting
Oberhofen Castle Museum
12th May – 1st November
Tuesday – Sunday, 11 am – 5 pm
(Monday closed)
Link visitor information
Restaurant
Tuesday – Sunday, 11 am – 5 pm
(Monday closed)
Castle Services
Links below for infomation on:
– Guided tours
– Childern & families
– Schools
– Civil marriage ceremonies
– Weddings, celebrations & events
Castle Park
– Link to park opening times
Parking
Public Parking outside the castle
Address
Oberhofen Castle
Schloss 4
3653 Oberhofen
Tel.: +41 33 243 12 35
info@schlossoberhofen.ch
